What am I missing here? Typically on a flat freeway entrance ramp I'll start in 1st, rev up to maybe 3500 or 4000, shift into 2nd, and merge into traffic in either 2nd or 3rd. Don't have any problem with cars on my tail.

If I started in 2nd, it would be even slower.

A lot of people I know simply don't feel comfortable with increasing the revs quickly. When the gears are short, the car will accelerate really slowly if you're the type of person who doesn't like quickly increasing the revs.